NURSES

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) issued a solicitation for nursing services to address critical staffing needs across multiple correctional institutions, specifically seeking 35 registered nurses (RNs) and 32 licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The procurement is a fixed-price contract targeting healthcare staffing requirements related to COVID-19, with nurses required to be available to begin assigned shifts within three days of notification. Key qualifications include being a licensed RN or LPN and ability to work in correctional healthcare settings. The solicitation established maximum hourly rates of $85.00 for RNs and $75.00 for LPNs, with no overtime or holiday pay provisions. Bidders were required to submit sealed offers by November 10, 2021, at 10:00 AM, with award notification scheduled for November 15, 2021. The initial contract term is three months (November 16, 2021 through February 15, 2022) with an optional three-month renewal period. Vendors must be registered in the South Carolina vendor registration system and maintain specified insurance coverage, including $1,000,000 commercial general liability per occurrence.

The solicitation was non-protestable under the SCDC Locum Tenens Providers exemption and allowed multiple vendors to participate on a non-exclusive basis. Twenty-three vendors were ultimately awarded contracts, including Cell Staff LLC, Condustrial Inc., Exceptional Nurse Staffing, Hire Power Recruits LLC, and several other staffing agencies. The total potential contract value was estimated at $6,000,000 ($3,000,000 for RNs and $3,000,000 for LPNs), though no minimum purchase volume was guaranteed. Awarded vendors submitted bids ranging from $70.00 to $84.95 for RNs and $60.00 to $74.95 for LPNs, which were below the maximum established rates. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were mentioned in the documentation. The procurement officer, Ruthie H. Bishop, CPPB, can be contacted at (803) 748-5498 or Bishop.Ruthie@doc.state.sc.us for additional information about the contract opportunity.